Chapter 2.10 of the dispatch (pp. 638-701) defines the legally binding mechanism for the regular Swiss contribution to the EU. At CHF 350 million per year, it is one of the politically most sensitive parts of the package.
The Swiss contribution is for the first time regulated on a legally binding basis. It amounts to CHF 350 million per year, split into CHF 308 million for cohesion (reducing economic and social disparities in the EU) and CHF 42 million for migration (supporting asylum and migration measures). Contribution periods run for seven years each, synchronised with the EU financial framework.
The Cohesion Contribution Act (CCA) provides the national legal basis for implementation.
| Component | Amount/year | Share | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cohesion | CHF 308 m | 88% | Reducing economic/social disparities |
| Migration | CHF 42 m | 12% | Asylum and migration measures |
| Total | CHF 350 m | 100% | - |
The cohesion contribution benefits partner states with a GNI below 90% of the EU average. These include:
Funds are used for concrete projects:
The migration contribution supports EU states with:
The MoU between Switzerland and the EU governs operational details:
| Country | Contribution/year | GDP (bn) | Contribution/GDP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | CHF 350 m | 810 bn | 0.043% |
| Norway | approx. CHF 440 m | 490 bn | 0.090% |
| Iceland | approx. CHF 3 m | 28 bn | 0.011% |
| Liechtenstein | approx. CHF 1 m | 7 bn | 0.014% |
Switzerland pays less in absolute terms than Norway, despite having a significantly larger GDP. Relative to GDP, Switzerland's contribution is about half that of Norway.
The CCA provides the national legal basis for the Swiss contribution. It regulates:
In addition to the regular contribution, the package provides for a one-off additional commitment of CHF 130-350 million per contribution period. These funds are earmarked for:
The contribution follows the Swissness principle: Swiss expertise and companies are to be given preferential consideration in project implementation. This strengthens:
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total amount | CHF 350 m/year |
| Cohesion | CHF 308 m/year |
| Migration | CHF 42 m/year |
| Contribution period | 7 years (synchronised with EU MFF) |
| Legal basis | CCA (Cohesion Contribution Act) |
| Partner states | EU states <90% EU GNI |
| Comparison Norway | approx. CHF 440 m/year |
| Additional commitment | CHF 130-350 m one-off |